Color selector



Jan. 1, 1963 I J. GAUDlER-PONS 3,070,905

COLOR SELECTOR Filed Aug. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOSEPH GAUO/EE-DONS A TTOENE Y5.

J. GAUDlER-PONS Jan. 1, 1963 COLOR SELECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1960 TEE -E ATTORNEYS.

poration of ()hio Filed Aug. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 52,495

3 Claims. (Cl. 35-28.3)

This invention relates to sample exhibitors and concerns particularly means for interchangeably exposing color samples on pivotally connected sheets or strips arranged for selective exposure to View.

An object of the invention is to provide color selectors or co-ordinators arranged for simultaneously presenting harmonizing colors to the eye as well as presenting such colors together with an accent color.

A further object of the invention is to present color harmonies interchangeably for enabling an interior decorator, home decorator, home owner or buyer of draperies and furniture to produce a variety of color harmonies at will to aid in selecting the color of finish to be used on walls, ceilings and contrast in a room or group of adjoining rooms for determination of harmonious color combinations, together with selection of harmonizing or accenting colors for draperies, furniture, upholstery, carpeting and the like.

A further object is to prevent loss of color cards while retaining complete accessibility thereof.

Another object is to permit only those color cards to be exposed to view simultaneously which constitute appropriate harmonizing or contrasting combinations.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Certain features disclosed herein but not claimed are claimed in the copending divisional application, Serial No. 207,842, filed June 11, 1962.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with a preferred form thereof, a plurality of color cards are provided each marked with an identifying name or other in-dicia for enabling the buyer to reproduce the color by purchase of the paint, enamel or other coloring material or by comparison with fabrics, coverings and other materials to be used in the decoration. The color cards are divided into four groups of colors or color families and hinged in a container with a window, such as to expose only portions of the surface of the cards. The portions of the cards adapted to be exposed through the window are cut in such shapes that four different colors or color families are visible simultaneously. The arrangement is such that cards selected from each of the four groups but no others are visible through the window at any one time. The hinged construction permits selection of cards from among each of the four groups so as to expose different combinations of colors as selected, each combination constituting a color quadrangle or a color triad harmonizing with an accent color. The color cards are so mounted in the groups that only harmonizing color quadrangles are possible. In this way the decorator or purchaser of color finishes and furnishings is assured of a harmonious color scheme in advance before the furnishings have been installed and the finishes applied to the walls and room surfaces, and aid is provided in selecting colors pleasing the decorators taste.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention in which the color cards are hinged to pivot around an axis at one end of the color cards perpendicular to the surfaces thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the color selector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a section of the selector of FIG.

Patented Jan. 1, 1953 1 represented as cut by a plane 33 indicated in FIG. 2 seen as looking in the direction of the arrows of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a corresponding view, but represented as cut by the plane 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a corresponding view represented as cut by plane 55 of P16. 2',

FIG. 6 is a corresponding view of a section represented as cut by a plane 6--6 indicated in FIG. 2;

PEG. 7 is a plan view of a color selector in which the color cards are mounted to be hinged around an axis lying along one side of the color cards;

R6. 8 is a fragmentary side View of the color selector FIGS. 7 and 9 represented as seen looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7, but with a portion of the color cards broken away to expose a fragmentary sectional view.

Like reference characters are drawing to designate like parts.

The embodiment of the invention represented by FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises a casing 11 containing a stack of color cards 12. The casing 11 has a U-shaped cross section consisting of top and bottom walls 13 and 14 with a connecting end 15, the sides and remaining end being open. At the end opposite the connecting end 15 an aperture 10 is cut through the casing walls 13 and 14 and through the cards 12 to receive a hinge pin 16 having heads 17 and 18. The hinge pin 16 may be in the form of a headed pin having a head 17 with a threaded bore 19 at the opposite end to receive a machine screw having the head 18. The arrangement is such that any one of the cards in the stack 12 may be shifted out sideways from the container, pivoting around the pin 16.

Each of the color cards in the stack 12 is of a different color and the stack 12 is divided into four groups or sub stacks 21, 22, 23 and 24. The group or sub stack 24 consists of color cards of different colors, the top surfaces or faces being the ones to which the color is ap plied. The colors in the group 24 consist of one or more color families with different cards in each color family constituting different tints or shades of substantially the same color. As shown, the color cards 24 are lowermost, all of the Same length so as to fit within the casing 11 and are cut off square at the ends, but not so long as to prevent easily swinging around the hinge pin 16, a slight clearance 25 being provided between the ends of the color cards in the stack 24 and the inner edge of the end wall 15 of the casing.

The stack of color cards 23 immediately above the lowermost stack 24 also consists of cards of different colors, including one or more color families, but the ends are cut off at an angle to the sides. As shown in FIG. 5, the cards of the stack 23 are cut obliquely along a line 26 making an acute angle preferably 45 or less with the edge 27.

The stack of cards 22 also consist of a plurality of color cards of different colors including one or more different color families with different cards in each color family constituting different shades or tints of the same color. The ends of the color cards of the stack 22 are also cut off obliquely, but in this case they are cut off along a line 28 making an acute angle preferably 45 or less with the opposite edge 29.

The uppermost stack of color cards 21 also consists of color cards of different colors, preferably being accent colors or contrasting colors for use in conjunction with the color triads provided by the cards of stacks 22, 23, and 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the cards of the stack 21 are cut off along lines representing continuations of both lines 26 and 28, so that the cards of this stack are shorter than the cards of the other stack with pointed or wedge shaped ends 31, having edges 32 and 33 oblique to both utilized throughout the the side edges 27 and 29 of the cards. Thus, four sector shaped areas 3 35, 36 and 37 of different colors are provided and different colors in these sector shaped areas may be exposed to View at one time.

The casing 11 may be composed of any suitable material such as plastic, preferably opaque or provided with opaque covering except for a window portion 38 exposing to view the four sector shaped areas 34, 35, 36 and 37 and covering the lower portion 39 of the color cards. The covered portion 3/ of the colored cards may be employed for marking the names or color numbers or other identifying indicia of the colors of the color cards in order to identify the paints or color finishes to be purchased or applied to the surfaces in question or for comparison with fabric colors or covering material to be used on furnishings and furniture.

For example, the covered portion 39 of one of the color cards in the stack 21 consisting of accent color cards may bear the indicia Canton Jadel Gallon Melody Green, 4 Ounces KTC Deep Blue or it may contain the indicia for example, Gateway Blue 716, the indicia being coded to the names, numbers or indicia marked on cans of color finish used by the manufacturer or supplier of color finishes or used in the identification of color swatches, fabrics, plastic coloring material or the like.

When a color combination is to be selected, sufficient color cards from the lowermost stack 24 are pivoted or swung out of the way so as to expose under the window 38 a desired color which is to be used upon one of the walls, ceilings or portions thereof or other surfaces in a room or other area. The same procedure is then follo-wel with respect to cards in the stacks 22 and 23 so that a color triad is exposed to the window 38 enabling the decorator or selector of the color combination to determine Whether a proposed color triad will satisfy his taste. The different colors of the triad may represent, for example, the color of the ceiling, one or more of the major walls of a room and remaining walls of a room. Then if it is desired to employ a contrasting or accenting color for draperies, for upholstery or for color finished furniture, one of the color cards of the stack 21 is selected with other color cards of the stack swung out of the Way as far as necessary to expose the selected accent color card.

In this Way a color quadrangle may be examined and may be considered or discussed with the home owner before finishes are actually applied and before the furniture has been finished or before the draperies and upholstery have actually been ordered. In this way the decorator or home owner can be satisfied before the expenditure for furnishings, material and labor is made, that a desired color combination will be obtained.

Moreover, the color cards in each stack are so arranged that each of the colors in any one stack will provide a professional color harmony with any of the colors of the other stacks that can be exposed to view simultaneously to form color qnadrangles.

Although a color selector has been described and illustrated in which color cards are hinged to pivot around an axis perpendicular to the surfaces of the color cards, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and does not exclude a hinging arrangement in which some other pivot action is employed. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 cards may be arranged to pivot around an axis parallel to the edges or sides of the cards by providing a ring type binding in which the color cards are assembled in book form. There is a conventional, flexible sheet metal or plastic binder unit 41 integral with a plurality of rings 4-2 interlocked with openings 43 in covers 4-4 and 45 and color cards 46 of difierent colors. The covers 44 and 45 are preferably opaque except for a transparent window 47. For example, the back cover 45 may be formed of fiberboard, the front cover 44 of transparent plastic with the window portion 47 exposed and the remaining coated or covered by opaque material, except if desired for an aperture 48.

The cards 46 are divided into a plurality of groups only six of which 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 are shown for the sake of simplicity in the drawing, although additional groups may be provided if desired. Each group consists of subgroups.

For simplicity and clarity in illustrating arrangement of the subgroups, all of the cards except one group have been cut away and a portion of the cover 44 has been cut away in view of FIG. 9. The group 52 has subgroup arranged one above another. The subgroup comprises a plurality of color cards 57, 58 and 59 and, if desired, additional color cards all of the same color family, but different tints or shades thereof. Cards 57, 58 and 59 are all cut off square as shown, with ends perpendicular to the side hinged by the ring unit 41 but are progressively different lengths, so that parallel horizontal strips of the successive cards. 57, 58 and 59 are all exposed to view simultaneously.

Above the subgroup consisting of the cards 57, 58 and 59 is another subgroup consisting of cards 61, 62, 63, 64 and, if desired, additional cards constituting different shades or tints of a color family different from that of cards 57, 58 and 5%. The cards 6]., 62, 63 and 64 have their upper ends cut off at an angle, preferably an acute angle less than 45 to the top edge 65 of the card 57 so as to expose the cards 57, 58 and 59 to view in part. In addition, the cards 61, 62, 63 and 64 are also of progressively dilferent lengths with parallel top edges 66, 67, 68 and 6@ cut parallel to the top edge 65 of the card 57. In this manner horizontal strips of all of the cards 61, 62, 63 and 64 of that color family are exposed simultaneously.

Above the color family cards 61, 62, 63 and s4 is another subgroup comprising cards 71, 72, 73 and 74 of a third color family with the different cards thereof having different tints or shades of the same color family and these cards also have oblique and horizontal edges similar tothe cards 61, 62, 63 and 64, except that the oblique edgesof one subgroup of cards follows the oblique line 75 and the edges of the other group follow the oblique line 76. The cards 71, 72, 73 and 74- have oblique edge portions following the oblique lines 76. Above the cards of the subgroups already mentioned 'but in the same main group is an accent color card 77 shorter than the other color cards having a gable or wedge shaped upper end formed by edges 78 and 79 following lines which are continuations of edge line 76 and 75 respectively.

From FIG. 9, it will best be seen that the accent color of the card 77 may be viewed in conjunction with a triad of color families simultaneously with different tints or shades of each color family being visible to aid in the selection.

Each of the other groups of color cards, such as the groups 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56, has a different color accent color card corresponding with the color card 77 together with color family cards corresponding to those already described but of different color families. Thus, by leafing through the color card selector book any desired harmonious triad of color families may be found together with an appropriate accent color. The colors in each group of color cards are limited to those forming a color harmony and making an artistic contrast with the accent color. In this manner the user of the color selector is provided with a color guide which allows simultaneous precise selection of harmonies and decorator combinations, plus a recommended accent color.

If desired, an additional color card 81 may be provided under the cover 44 to provide a contrasting color under the aperture 48 of the cover 44.

The color cards may also be employed to form swatches which may be cut or torn out for use in comparison with fabrics and upholstery coverings or as notations of identifications of color finishes to be purchased. To this end the portions of the color cards under the opaque cover 44 are provided with perforation lines 32 to form swatch rectangles 83, each of which is provided with indicia preferably on the back or under surface, such as the indicia described in connection with the cards of FIGS. 1 to 6 identifying the color names or numbers and, if desired, the compositions of prime colors by which the color in question is produced together with the name of the manufacturer and/ or the trademark, trade name or brand name of the colors furnished by the manufacturer or supplier.

Certain embodiments of the invention and certain methods of operation embraced therein have been shown and particularly described for the purpose of explaining the principle of operation of the invention and showing its application, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible, and it is intended therefore to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the invention.

Certain embodiments of the invention and certain methods of operation embraced therein have been shown and particularly described for the purpose of explaining the principle of operation of the invention and showing its application, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations are possible, and it is intended therefore to cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A color selector comprising in combination a casing having a wall with a window at one end of the wall and a hinge pin at the opposite end of the wall, a plurality of color cards fitting within the casing having apertures engaging said hinge pin whereby the color cards are pivotally movable into or out of the casing with end portions thereof under said window or removed therefrom, said color cards being divided into four groups, a lower group extending substantially the length of the casing, a plurality of other groups each with a different portion thereof under the window cut away, such other groups being mounted one above the other whereby end portions of a plurality of different color cards are visible under the window simultaneously and different combinations of colors may be presented under the window by rotating cards of colors to be rejected around said hinge pin to expose only selected color cards.

2. A color selector comprising in combination a stack of color cards of different colors, a plurality of other stacks of color cards of different colors, all of the color cards being adapted to be placed in a common stack with a common hinge pin passing through one end of the stack for pivotally mounting the color cards in relation to each other and with the ends of the cards away from the hinge pin adapted to be exposed to view, the first stack being lowermost, each of the other stacks having a different portion thereof cut away at the end away from the hinge pin whereby a plurality of different color cards are simultaneously presented to view and any of the exposed color cards may be rejected by swinging it out of position around the hinge pin for enabling selected combinations of color cards to be presented to view for facilitating ascertainment of pleasing color combinations, the cards of each of the other stacks having the end portions cut away at different angles to form sectors about a common center simultaneously presented to view.

3. A color selector as in claim 2, in which the first stack of color cards is lower most and has an edge at the end perpendicular to sides and there are first, second and third additional stacks of color cards, the first additional stack of color cards having the end cut off at an angle oblique to the left side, the second additional stack of color cards has an end cut off oblique to the right side and the third stack of color cards is upper most and has the ends cut off in wedge shape with edges oblique to both sides, with the apex of the wedge at the intersection of the oblique edges of the second and third stacks whereby four sectors are simultaneously presented to view to form a color quadranglc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,391,286 Vautrain Sept. 20, 1921 1,528,621 Lavers Mar. 3, 1925 1,704,605 Hintz Mar. 5, 1929 2,203,167 Lodwick June 4, 1940 2,665,503 Miller Jan. 12, 1954 

1. A COLOR SELECTOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CASING HAVING A WALL WITH A WINDOW AT ONE END OF THE WALL AND A HINGE PIN AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE WALL, A PLURALITY OF COLOR CARDS FITTING WITHIN THE CASING HAVING APERTURES ENGAGING SAID HINGE PIN WHEREBY THE COLOR CARDS ARE PIVOTALLY MOVABLE INTO OR OUT OF THE CASING WITH END PORTIONS THEREOF UNDER SAID WINDOW OR REMOVED THEREFROM, SAID COLOR CARDS BEING DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS, A LOWER GROUP EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH OF THE CASING, A PLURALITY OF OTHER GROUPS EACH WITH A DIFFERENT PORTION THEREOF UNDER THE WINDOW CUT AWAY, SUCH OTHER GROUPS BEING MOUNTED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER WHEREBY END PORTIONS OF A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT COLOR CARDS ARE VISIBLE UNDER THE WINDOW SIMULTANEOUSLY AND DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF COLORS MAY BE PRESENTED UNDER THE WINDOW BY ROTATING CARDS OF COLORS TO BE REJECTED AROUND SAID HINGE PIN TO EXPOSE ONLY SELECTED COLOR CARDS. 